Laminate vs composite stocks

[Kevin1990]

i've noticed carbon fiber, while be relatively stiff
Dampens a WHOLE LOT of recoil impulse, carbon fiber seems to absorb shock

Interesting, and good to know! The more I'm reading on this, I'm finding that maybe heavier fills seem to dampen recoil/vibration more than others. However, it seems to be just one persons word over another, albeit those people's words carry more weight than mine ever will.

I think I'm going to order a felso composite stock tomorrow with medium or heavy fill and have it bedded for my 30br or 6br and see how I like it.

 

[Fast14riot]

I've noticed the fore end stiffness varies quite a bit between not just composite and wood, but also by shape. I shoot some better than others, but haven't yet been able to exactly quantify fore end stiffness into my equation. Best I've been able to tell is its similar and related to how hard the front bag is filled.

I have some other ideas on stock structure, but lack the funding to have them built how I would like to try them.

 

[newbieshooter]

More reference material:

Post in thread 'Benchrest stock makers'

Nov 13, 2022

Back in the 80's we had all aluminum SRBR stocks. I seem to remember they were not competitive and swiftly died out.

That doesn't suprise me. There's a handful I have been around and they weren't winning. When playing with stock fills in my LRB there was differences in how they would act. I think the best version was the ones I had them do foam in the forend. They dampened better I believe. Some of the best rifles I built were on those. Jim Borden always wanted that version too. Jim and I were on the same page with stock design. We both preferred stocks with a little more...

• Alex Wheeler

• 

 

[Kevin1990]

More reference material:

Post in thread 'Benchrest stock makers'

Nov 13, 2022

Back in the 80's we had all aluminum SRBR stocks. I seem to remember they were not competitive and swiftly died out.

That doesn't suprise me. There's a handful I have been around and they weren't winning. When playing with stock fills in my LRB there was differences in how they would act. I think the best version was the ones I had them do foam in the forend. They dampened better I believe. Some of the best rifles I built were on those. Jim Borden always wanted that version too. Jim and I were on the same page with stock design. We both preferred stocks with a little more...

• Alex Wheeler

• 

Thanks for the info!

 

[JFrank]

Brett’s rubbed a lot of wood !!

He can make a fiberglass stock straight with some effort but these laminated wood stocks can warp or just not be cut perfectly.

How do you fix warped ?

 

[JMayo]

Weight management is what comes to my mind.
With My wood stock I'd have to really search for the lighter actions, scope, barrel length to get it less than 17lbs.
My other 2, 13lb rifles have the same action, scope & barrel with the plastic/fiber stocks.

 

[Kevin1990]

Weight management is what comes to my mind.
With My wood stock I'd have to really search for the lighter actions, scope, barrel length to get it less than 17lbs.
My other 2, 13lb rifles have the same action, scope & barrel with the plastic/fiber stocks.

The clubs I shoot at have zero weight restrictions and when I ask questions like this I forget that is probably the main concern for 99 percent of people shooting benchrest when picking any stock is weight rather than material.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

At one time I was obsessed with this topic. The sum of parts is actually more important. Theres some luck involved in that one is not better, just different. One thing I dont love is too stiff.

 

[Bc'z]

This 1 has a lil bit of everything
Carbon Fiber, Composite, and Wood.
Also for Brad Johnson pure artistry by @Southwest Action Works

 

[bugman]

Wood dampens vibration.
Composites, accentuate vibration.

The degree of composite vibration depends a lot on the fill material. All are hardly not the same.

 

[bugman]

i've noticed carbon fiber, while be relatively stiff
Dampens a WHOLE LOT of recoil impulse, carbon fiber seems to absorb shock

Short range, low profile, flat planed stocks are/were very popular for making weight requirements. However, a common complaint with some was the vibration from recoil impulse. These carbon fiber stocks with the most vibration seemed to be the ones with the lowest ratio of wood core. How many different brands have you shot?

 

[Kevin1990]

At one time I was obsessed with this topic. The sum of parts is actually more important. Theres some luck involved in that one is not better, just different. One thing I dont love is too stiff.

I've found 3 older threads now with a lot of good info from you and others on this topic. Just had to search different terminology I wasn't familiar with and that gave me a wealth of knowledge, Much appreciated! Pretty cool that you got the opportunity to test different stocks with different fills.

 

[dave7mm]

Sometimes.
Good old fashioned walnut.
Just gets it done.

 

[jghoghunter]

Here's a good old fashioned hand made laminate flat top from Custom Rifle Stocks. This was made for Mike Redin of Redin's Barrel Chambering.

 

[dave7mm]

And the colors of just about ANY "laminated wood" stock look better than ANY composite stock. Throw a little clear on it, step back and see the colors jump out you never saw before.

You mean like this.?

 

[Kevin1990]

Someone should make a separate thread for people to show off their stocks, title it, "show me your wood."...or composite. Lol

 

[Bob3700]

To find a walnut blank, sized to fit the stock u want can be a difficult task. Once u begin cutting on a solid piece of wood u can run into a host of problems. Hidden defects can cause u to scrap a piece of wood.
Laminated wood stocks avoid this issue as u can inspect each layer of wood before u glue the whole thing together. Typically, a laminated stock is heavier than a solid wood model. The type of wood is of course a variable.
Any wood stock can be customized/ modified ( cutting n sanding) to exactly fit you or ur application. That is a big plus.
With composite stocks, what u get will hopefully fit n function for u as modifications are not easy.
One issue ( no matter the material) no two stocks will fit/ feel the same no matter how hard u try to make that happen. It is strange but true.